Synthesis of Negatively Charged CeO2 NPs and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Human Lens Epithelial (HLE) Cell Lines—Investigation for New Therapy for Cataract Treatment

Cerium oxide decorated 5-fluorouracil loaded chitosan nanoparticles for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in the mammalian system in both normal and pathological conditions. Hence, this work prepared and characterized the ROS responsive cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) decorated 5-fluorouracil (5FU) loaded chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (CS-5FU NPs) for enhanced anticancer activity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2 cells). CeO₂ NPs decorated CS-5FU NPs were found to be spherical in shape and black dense aggregated particles sized 200 nm. The functional properties and cubic crystalline structure of CeO₂ NPs were studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. Further, CS-5FU-CeO₂ NPs attenuated the 2,2'-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH) induced ROS formation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH3T3 cells) while enhancing apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells by controlled delivery of 5FU. Furthermore, CS-5FU-CeO₂ NPs have not exhibited toxicity to red blood cells (RBCs) and chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). Hence, this work concluded that CeO₂ NPs decorated CS-5FU NPs synergistically enhanced anticancer activity in HepG2 cells through the regulation of ROS.